Since the 1950s, the Neumann M50 has been heralded as the ideal microphone for orchestral recording and string scoring. With its phenomenal transient response and unique directional characteristic, this classic mic has endeared many fans, both in the control room and on the soundstage.

The new M150 Tube takes many of the features from the original M50 and incorporates them in a very modern microphone. With low self noise, a Titanium membrane and capsule, transformerless tube amplifier and sophisticated power supply, the M150 Tube is not a re-issue but an entirely new microphone in its own right.

Acoustical featuresThe Titanium diaphragm of the pressure capsule is 12 mm in diameter and is exceedingly thin. Although Titanium has been know to have unique and desirable characteristics for some time, it has, until very recently, been very difficult to procure and machine in the quality necessary for use in a microphone of this type.

The headgrille is shaped just like that on the original M50, as requested by various top engineers in the recording industry. Due to mounting the pressure capsule with the diaphragm flush to the surface of a small (40 mm) sphere, the directional characteristic of the M150 Tube is entirely unique. At the lowest frequences, this system produces a perfectly circular polar pattern. However, in the mid- and upper frequencies, the pickup pattern becomes more narrow, allowing for careful aiming of the microphone in the stereo field.

The M 150 Tube is an ideal microphone for any stereo, 5.1 or 7.1 surround recording, particularly DECCA Tree technique.

Electrical featuresThe dynamic range of the M150 Tube is 119 dB, allowing reproduction of the full musical expression, without restraint. With a low self noise of 15 dB-A, more gain can be used without risk of adding noise to the final product. The transformerless output circuit of this microphone allows for extremely fine reproduction of small signals and low frequency information. Also, long cable runs can be used with no loss of signal quality.

I've owned and used the U87, U89, 69, M49b, Klaus versions of the 49 and numerous others. I had been told not to get this mic because it was very different from the original M50... I bought it anyway and A/B'd them. WOW, it was slightly different in the quietness during "no signal" time. This mic beat the others in my collection that sell for 8-9m! I'm going to sell one of those and get another M150 so I can have a stereo pair... I record Jazz, Symphony, Pop, Metal as well as film score... no foley though, but I believe this mic would work well in that environment also. good recording and make mine tape.